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kate_cunningham's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
pluviosity's review against another edition
2.0
Riyadh: The duality, the non-sensical glamour of living, yet the strictness, and lot of times, the degradation of women status in society.
But there's something dead-eyed about this book.
is it because the writer use e'mail format?
or is it because in Indonesia, where I live, tales like these is not a shocker anymore?
I doubt that without the "banned" status, this book will hardly attract anyone.
But there's something dead-eyed about this book.
is it because the writer use e'mail format?
or is it because in Indonesia, where I live, tales like these is not a shocker anymore?
I doubt that without the "banned" status, this book will hardly attract anyone.
jmarchek's review against another edition
3.0
Saudi Arabian chick lit! Some themes are universal - single gals looking for love. I enjoyed reading about the differences in their society. I appreciate the freedom I have to choose my spouse. Both the men & women really are limited and controlled by the older generation in this book.
rhodaj's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
lori85's review against another edition
3.0
Basically chick lit that happens to be set in Saudi Arabia, which means the rich, spoiled, fashion-obsessed protagonists actually have issues, although they can also afford to spend extended periods abroad, which certainly isn't an option for most women in any country. Kind of a shallow book overall, with a clunky translation, although that can be partly excused by the format. The story is set up as a series of emails recounting the drama of the unnamed narrators' friends as an exposé on the real lives of Saudi women, so a certain level of "amateurish" prose gives it a more realistic feel. The cultural aspects were interesting as well.
rjtonamen's review against another edition
4.0
Man... I wish I could read Arabic. The author's note at the front mentioned that the original Arabic version mixed various dialects of the language, which didn't translate very easily into English; I think my main complaint about the book would be solved if a) it translated better or b) I read the original.
I was very interested in this book, since I know very little about Saudi Arabia in general, and even less about the life of the average young woman there. I loved the email-list format (even if I found it hard to believe at times) and I often found myself more interested in the sender of the emails than the actual girls she was writing about. I also liked how each character seemed to represent a different position/worldview for young girls in Saudi Arabia, which gave a broader view of the culture without turning the book into a tome. AND ALL OF THE MEN WERE TERRIBLE (which was kind of hilarious, in a #relatable way).
My main complaint, as hinted at in my first lines: Even though all the girls had different points of view, they all kind of sounded the same. At first, I struggled to keep them all straight because they didn't really have unique voices. They did become distinct characters as they grew apart and experienced the world differently, but they all just sounded like... they were written by the same author. Which they were. But still.
Not one of my favorite book club books so far, but not one of my least favorite. Interesting - good - but not great. #ReadingSaudiArabia
I was very interested in this book, since I know very little about Saudi Arabia in general, and even less about the life of the average young woman there. I loved the email-list format (even if I found it hard to believe at times) and I often found myself more interested in the sender of the emails than the actual girls she was writing about. I also liked how each character seemed to represent a different position/worldview for young girls in Saudi Arabia, which gave a broader view of the culture without turning the book into a tome. AND ALL OF THE MEN WERE TERRIBLE (which was kind of hilarious, in a #relatable way).
My main complaint, as hinted at in my first lines: Even though all the girls had different points of view, they all kind of sounded the same. At first, I struggled to keep them all straight because they didn't really have unique voices. They did become distinct characters as they grew apart and experienced the world differently, but they all just sounded like... they were written by the same author. Which they were. But still.
Not one of my favorite book club books so far, but not one of my least favorite. Interesting - good - but not great. #ReadingSaudiArabia
mgs3's review against another edition
3.0
It being based on the real lives of Saudi women gave it an interesting spin, but sometimes it read like a watered down conservative version of sex and the city. I still found it to be a fun and easy read.
alicebme's review against another edition
3.0
Book club book with mom. I appreciate this book, but I was frustrated reading it, probably because I am a white American atheist woman.